Feeding behaviour of larval Ambystoma mexicanum
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Abstract
The Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, endemic to the freshwater lakes, Xochimilco and Chalco in Mexico City, feeds on zooplankton during its larval stages. We evaluated the functional response over eight weeks of A. mexicanum fed different prey items found in its natural habitat (rotifers: Brachionus havanaensis, B. calyciflorus, B. rubens and Plationus patulus; cladocerans: Moina macrocopa, Macrothrix triserialis, Alona glabra and Simocephalus vetulus; and ostracods: Heterocypris incongruens). Zooplankton consumption by A. mexicanum varied in relation to the prey species and age of the larvae. Unlike oviparous fish larvae which often feed preferentially on rotifers in the first few weeks, A. mexicanum larvae fed more on cladocerans and ostracods. Among the cladocerans offered, larval A. mexicanum consumed higher numbers of M. triserialis and M. macrocopa. Feeding on the largest cladoceran tested, S. vetulus, increased after the fifth week. There was a consistent increase in the number of ostracods Heterocypris incongruens, consumed with age, from 4 to 169 prey per larva over eight weeks. The results are discussed with relation to the importance of zooplankton diet in conservation effort of this endangered species in Lake Xochimilco.
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Feeding behaviour of larval Ambystoma mexicanum
In: Amphibia-ReptiliaSearch for other papers by Diego de Jesus Chaparro-Herrera in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by S. Nandini in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by S.S.S. Sarma in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Luis Zambrano in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, endemic to the freshwater lakes, Xochimilco and Chalco in Mexico City, feeds on zooplankton during its larval stages. We evaluated the functional response over eight weeks of A. mexicanum fed different prey items found in its natural habitat (rotifers: Brachionus havanaensis, B. calyciflorus, B. rubens and Plationus patulus; cladocerans: Moina macrocopa, Macrothrix triserialis, Alona glabra and Simocephalus vetulus; and ostracods: Heterocypris incongruens). Zooplankton consumption by A. mexicanum varied in relation to the prey species and age of the larvae. Unlike oviparous fish larvae which often feed preferentially on rotifers in the first few weeks, A. mexicanum larvae fed more on cladocerans and ostracods. Among the cladocerans offered, larval A. mexicanum consumed higher numbers of M. triserialis and M. macrocopa. Feeding on the largest cladoceran tested, S. vetulus, increased after the fifth week. There was a consistent increase in the number of ostracods Heterocypris incongruens, consumed with age, from 4 to 169 prey per larva over eight weeks. The results are discussed with relation to the importance of zooplankton diet in conservation effort of this endangered species in Lake Xochimilco.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 924 | 0 | 0 |
| Full Text Views | 919 | 263 | 35 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 1302 | 438 | 54 |
